Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State on Thursday polled a total of 447 votes, out of 452 accredited delegates to emerge the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) for the December 5th Gubernatorial election in the State.

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State on Thursday polled a total of 447 votes, out of 452 accredited delegates to emerge the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) for the December 5th Gubernatorial election in the State.

Delegates from the eight local government areas of the state, led by the immediate past President of the Country, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan unanimously elected Governor Dickson as the party’s flag bearer.

The voting exercise was declared open by the chairman of the 5-member National Electoral Panel and Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Ayodele Fayose.

Assuring the delegates of his readiness to conduct a peaceful and credible primaries, Chief Fayose said, the PDP primaries is not like that of other parties that always end in chaos and rancour.

The chairman said, he would allow Dr. Jonathan cast his vote first to be followed by the incumbent Governor, Hon. Dickson and his Deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah rtd.

After the exercise that lasted for close to two hours, the Chairman of the panel announced Governor Dickson as the flag bearer of the PDP in the forthcoming election.

He disclosed that the total number of delegates were 476, voided votes were 5, while the total number of delegates absent were 24.

In his acceptance speech, Governor Seriake Dickson expressed gratitude to the support of all the party members, particularly the Chairman of the panel, whom he observed did not abandon a critical exercise mid way.

Governor Dickson, who was also full of praises for Dr. Jonathan for his unwavering solidarity in spite of what he described as a few machinations from the opposition, announced his deputy governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd) as his running mate.

Describing members of the PDP as law-abiding citizens, the Governor however, condemned the attack on citizens of the state in last Tuesday’s APC congress in Bayelsa, stressing that, despite differences in political ideologies, they did not deserve to be humiliated.

His words: “Whereas, they are disorganized, we are organized. We are a party of law-abiding citizens. Let me call on all our brothers, who fell victim to 419 and they have one chance to come back. Our big umbrella is ever open to accommodate them. We have left Egypt in this state. Today, we are building the roads and bridges that they could not build. Let me make it clear that we will campaign them out.

“Whether we agree with their political ideas or not, they do not deserve the treatment that they received on that day, because we are all ashamed of the despicable act, because it is not in our nature. We are a people of peace and so once again, the difference between our party and theirs is very clear.”

According to him, having provided security and the state facility for members of the APC to conduct their primaries, called on those maltreated in the exercise to retrace their steps to the PDP to work for the success of the party in te forthcoming election.

Daniel Iworiso-Markson
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State